VR Flight Emulator Using Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation to Reduce Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Training pilots of aircraft poses unique challenges due to the need for physical flight and remote operation, which are hindered by signal, communication, and control latency caused by large distances between control centers and remote vehicles, affecting decision-making during operations.
Innovation Solution
A virtual reality flight emulator system that uses galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) and visual cues to simulate the motion and orientation of aircraft, allowing users to control and operate remote or virtual vehicles through a pilot control interface, with the ability to virtually teleport into slave vehicles to reduce latency and enhance training and operation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote vehicle operation is implemented to avoid physical flight training requirements, then training safety and accessibility are improved, but signal, communication, and control latency increases due to large distances between control centers and remote vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual reality emulator as an intermediary system that locally simulates remote vehicle behavior and environmental conditions. This emulator runs on the operator's local device, eliminating the need for real-time communication with distant vehicles for basic training scenarios, thus reducing latency while maintaining training accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a local copy of the remote vehicle's behavior patterns, environmental conditions, and operational characteristics through the VR emulator. This copy allows operators to practice control procedures and decision-making locally without requiring actual connection to remote vehicles, thereby eliminating communication latency for training purposes
2Reliability
If physical flight training is required to ensure safe and effective operation, then operator skill and situational awareness are improved, but training cost and risk increase due to requirements for actual aircraft flight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of actual aircraft flight with a virtual reality simulation system that uses galvanic vestibular stimulation. This substitution maintains the sensory feedback and operational training value while eliminating the need for physical aircraft, reducing training complexity and risk
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of training by using galvanic vestibular stimulation to simulate motion sensations without actual movement. This allows the operator to experience flight-like sensory feedback while remaining stationary, simplifying the training system while maintaining skill development effectiveness
3Adaptability or versatility
If galvanic vestibular stimulation is added to the VR system to enhance motion simulation, then realism and operator immersion are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The galvanic vestibular stimulation device serves multiple functions: it provides motion sensation feedback, enhances immersion, and can simulate different flight conditions and maneuvers. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple training benefits from a single system addition
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces latency and enhances the realism of remote vehicle operation, improving training effectiveness and decision-making by providing real-time feedback and immersive simulation of vehicle motion and orientation, allowing for precise control and operation of multiple vehicles simultaneously.
Implementation Method 1
A virtual reality flight emulator system that uses galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) and visual cues to simulate the motion and orientation of aircraft
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods include providing a virtual reality ("VR") flight emulator (100) that simulates control, operation, and response of a vehicle. The flight emulator (100) includes a control interface (102) and a head-mounted display (108) worn by a user (110). The user (110) of the flight emulator (100) can virtually teleport into a slave virtual or remote aircraft (204) in order to assume control of the slave virtual or remote aircraft (204). Motion of, orientation of, and/or forces acting on the slave virtual or remote aircraft (204) are imparted to a user (110) through a plurality of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) devices (117) when the user (110) of the flight emulator (100) is virtually teleported into the slave virtual or remote aircraft (204). The flight emulator (100) can be connected through a communication network (208) to a plurality of other flight emulators (100). The flight emulator (100) can also be installed in an aircraft and connected through the communication network (208) to a plurality of other remote aircraft (204a1-n).